Evaluation of synergistic/antagonistic antibacterial activities of fatty oils from apricot, date, grape, and black seeds.

The increasing antimicrobial resistance requires continuous investigation of new antimicrobial agents preferably derived from natural sources. New powerful antibacterial agents can be produced by simply combining oils that are known for their antibacterial activities. In this study, apricot seed oil (ASO), date seed oil (DSO), grape seed oil (GSO), and black seed oil (BSO) alone and in binary mixtures were assessed. Fatty acid profiles of individual oils and oil mixtures showed linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linolenic acid contents. Linoleic acid was the most abundant fatty acid in all samples except for ASO, where oleic acid was the dominant one. GSO showed the highest total phenolic content while ASO showed the lowest one. Antibacterial screening was performed against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Results showed antibacterial activity in all oils against tested strains except for ASO against S. aureus. Highest antibacterial activity recorded was for ASO against P. mirabilis. ASO-GSO mixture (AG) was the best mixture where it showed synergistic interactions against all strains except P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, seed oil mixtures are likely to show promising antibacterial activities against specific strains.

Preparation and characterization of biodegradable food packaging films using lemon peel pectin and chitosan incorporated with neem leaf extract and its application on apricot fruit.

The present study aims to develop and characterize biodegradable packaging films from lemon peel-derived pectin and chitosan incorporated with a bioactive extract from neem leaves. The films (PCNE) contained varying concentrations of neem leaf extract and were comprehensively assessed for their physical, optical, mechanical, and antimicrobial attributes. The thickness, moisture content, water solubility, and water vapor permeability of the biodegradable packaging films increased with the increasing concentration of neem leaf extract. Comparatively, the tensile strength of the films decreased by 42.05 % compared to the control film. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed that the resultant blended pectin-chitosan films showed a uniform structure without cracks. Furthermore, the analysis targeting Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus niger indicated that the films had potent antimicrobial activity. Based on these results, the optimum films were selected and subsequently applied on apricot fruits to increase their shelf life at ambient temperature. The findings, after examining factors such as colour, firmness, total soluble solids, shrinkage, weight loss, and appearance, concluded that the apricots coated by PCNE-5 had the most delayed signs of spoilage and increased their shelf life by 50 %. The results showed the potential applicability of lemon peel pectin-chitosan-neem leaf extract blend films in biodegradable food packaging.

Effect of apricot kernel seed extract on biophysical properties of chitosan film for packaging applications.

Chitosan is a natural biodegradable biopolymer that has drawbacks in mechanical and antibacterial properties, limiting its usage in biological and medicinal fields. Chitosan is combined with other naturally occurring substances possessing biological antibacterial qualities in order to broaden its application. Ethanolic apricot kernel seed extract was prepared, analyzed, and incorporated into chitosan film with different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 wt%). Furthermore, the effect of AKSE and γ-radiation (20 Gy and 20 kGy) on the physical properties of the film was studied. The prepared films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which revealed that AKSE did not cause any change in the molecular structure, whereas the γ-irradiation dose caused a decrease in the peak intensity of all concentrations except 0.75 wt%, which was the most resistant. In addition, their dielectric, optical, and antimicrobial properties were studied. Also, AKSE-enhanced optical qualities, allowed them to fully block light transmission at wavelengths of 450-600 nm. The dielectric properties, i.e., permittivity (ε'), dielectric loss (ε''), and electrical conductivity (σ), increased with increasing AKSE concentration and film irradiation. The antimicrobial studies revealed that the antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Canodida albicans increased with AKSE incorporation.

Direct conversion of apricot seeds into biodiesel.

Using edible lipids for biodiesel production has been criticized, causing biodiesel production from inedible food resources to be desirable. Lipid extraction must be prioritized to produce biodiesel using an acid/base-catalyzed transesterification process, but this conversion process suffers from technical reliability. Therefore, this study introduced non-catalytic conversion of oil-bearing biomass into biodiesel. Apricot seeds were used as a model compound (oil content 44.3 wt%). The non-catalytic transesterification of apricot seed oil recovered 98.28 wt% biodiesel at 360 °C for 1 min, while alkali-catalysis of apricot seed oil recovered 91.84 wt% at 63 °C for 60 min. The direct conversion of apricot seeds into biodiesel was attempted. The trends in the yields of biodiesel from apricot seeds and seed oil obtained by non-catalytic transesterification as a function of reaction temperature were similar. The yield of biodiesel from apricot seed was 43.06 wt%, suggesting that 97.20 wt% of lipids were converted into biodiesel.

Synthesis and application of a new antibacterial surfactant from apricot kernel oil.

Food emulsifier are mostly prepared from a lipophilic lipid tail with a hydrophilic sugar head. In this study, the lipophilic tail was obtained from apricot kernels, which are food waste, and the hydrophilic head was gluconic acid instead of sugar, in order to draw attention to the non-cyclic poly hydroxyl compounds. Thus, oleic acid of apricot kernel was used as the lipophilic moiety of the prepared surfactant. So, apricot kernel was grinned and dried, oil was extracted using soxhlet apparatus, Physical and chemical parameters and fatty acids composition of the extracted oil had been determined. The extracted oil was then hydrolyzed into glycerol and a mixture of free fatty acids. The fatty acids mixture was separated. Then, oleic acid was extracted individually in pure form using supercritical CO2 extractor, it was then confirmed according to its melting point, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after esterification, elemental analysis, Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H1NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS) to detect the corresponding molecular ion peak. The pure individual oleic acid was converted to hydroxy stearic acid, which was then converted to an amphiphilic compound (surfactant) via esterification reaction with the hydrophilic gluconic acid, and afforded a new surfactant known as 2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-6-((9-((-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanoyl) oxy)octadecanoyl) oxy)hexanoic acid or stearyl gluconate for simplification. The structures elucidation of all synthesized compound was established according to elemental analysis and spectral data (Fourier transform infrared IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS). Moreover, the prepared compound was tasted for its antibacterial activity, and showed good activities against some types of bacteria. The surface-active properties, foamability, foaming stability and emulsion stability of stearyl gluconate were studied and compared with the properties of the well-known surfactant sucrose stearate, and it was clear that, the activity of stearyl gluconate as a surfactant was higher than that of sucrose stearate. Moreover, establishment of safety of this compound was performed using albino rats by acute oral toxicity and kidney and liver functions of these mice. On the other hand, the prepared surfactant was used in the production of low fat-free cholesterol mayonnaise as egg replacer. Texture properties and the sensory evaluation of the prepared mayonnaise showed that the properties were improved by using the new prepared surfactant. Thus, the prepared gluconyl stearate can be used as a safe food additive.

Concurrent application of bacterial-mediated and mycosynthesized ZnO nanofungicides to maintain high ascorbic acid and delay postharvest decay of apricot.

Quality of apricot fruit is affected by different biotic stresses during growth, harvesting and storage. Due to fungal attack, huge losses of its quality and quantity are observed. The present research was designed for the diagnoses and management of postharvest rot disease of apricot. Infected apricot fruit were collected, and the causative agent was identified as A. tubingensis. To control this disease, both bacterial-mediated nanoparticles (b-ZnO NPs) and mycosynthesized nanoparticles (f-ZnO NPs) were used. Herein, biomass filtrates of one selected fungus (Trichoderma harzianum) and one bacterium (Bacillus safensis) were used to reduce zinc acetate into ZnO NPs. The physiochemical and morphological characters of both types of NPs were determined. UV-vis spectroscopy displayed absorption peaks of f-ZnO NPs and b-ZnO NPs at 310-380 nm, respectively, indicating successful reduction of Zinc acetate by the metabolites of both fungus and bacteria. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) determined the presence of organic compounds like amines, aromatics, alkenes and alkyl halides, on both types of NPs, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed nano-size of f-ZnO NPs (30 nm) and b-ZnO NPs (35 nm). Scanning electron microscopy showed flower-crystalline shape for b-ZnO NPs and spherical-crystalline shape for f-ZnO NPs. Both NPs showed variable antifungal activities at four different concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 mg/ml). Diseases control and postharvest changes in apricot fruit were analyzed for 15 days. Among all treatments, 0.50 mg/ml concentration of f-ZnO NPs and 0.75 mg/ml concentration of b-ZnO NPs exhibited the strongest antifungal activity. Comparatively, f-ZnO NPs performed slightly better than b-ZnO NPs. Application of both NPs reduced fruit decay and weight, maintained higher ascorbic acid contents, sustained titratable acidity, and preserved firmness of diseased fruit. Our results suggest that microbial synthesized ZnO NPs can efficiently control fruit rot, extend shelf life, and preserve the quality of apricot.

Green extraction of carotenoids from apricot flesh by ultrasound assisted corn oil extraction: Optimization, identification, and application.

The valorization of waste apricot flesh (WAF) can solve environmental and economic problems, and also meets the demand for natural pigments. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to recover carotenoids from WAF, to determine the type and content of carotenoids in the extracts and to explore the potential of the extracts for food industry applications. The extraction conditions were optimized. The total carotenoids content (TCC) was 42.75 mg/100 g dried weight under the optimized conditions: Time: 60 min, Temperature: 41.53℃, Power: 200 W, Liquid to solid (LS) ratio: 0.10 g/mL. The highest content of carotenoids in the corn oil extracts (COE) was phytoene. Color of COE under high temperature was investigated. Carotenoids in the COE were degraded at high temperatures. The a* of fries fried by COE was 7.31 times higher than that of corn oil. This study provides guidance for the green recovery of carotenoids and valorization of WAF.

Phenolamide extract of apricot bee pollen alleviates glucolipid metabolic disorders and modulates the gut microbiota and metabolites in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Obesity is a serious health problem, and it is important to discover natural active ingredients for alleviating it. In this study, we investigated the effect of phenolamide extract (PAE) from apricot bee pollen on obese mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). The main compounds in PAE were identified by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, and HFD-fed mice were treated with PAE for 12 weeks. The results demonstrated that the content of phenolamides in PAE was 87.75 ± 5.37%, with tri-p-coumaroyl spermidine as the dominant compound. PAE intervention in HFD-fed mice effectively reduced weight gain and lipid accumulation in the liver and epididymal fat, increased glucose tolerance, reduced insulin resistance and improved lipid metabolism. In terms of the gut microbiota, PAE could reverse the increase in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in HFD-fed mice. In addition, PAE could increase beneficial bacteria such as Muribaculaceae and Parabacteroides, and reduce harmful bacteria such as Peptostreptococcaceae and Romboutsia. Metabolomic analysis revealed that PAE could regulate the levels of metabolites, including bile acids, phosphatidyl choline (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (lysoPE) and tyrosine. This is the first study finding that PAE can regulate glucolipid metabolism and modulate the gut microbiota and metabolites in HFD-induced obese mice, and the results indicate that PAE can be used as a functional dietary supplement to alleviate HFD-induced obesity.

Low-temperature plasma modification, structural characterization and anti-diabetic activity of an apricot pectic polysaccharide.

To fully research the anti-diabetic activity of apricot polysaccharide, low temperature plasma (LTP) was used to modify apricot polysaccharide. The modified polysaccharide was isolated and purified using column chromatography. It was found that LTP modification can significantly improve the α-glucosidase glucosidase inhibition rate of apricot polysaccharides. The isolated fraction FAPP-2D with HG domain showed excellent anti-diabetic activity in insulin resistance model in L6 cell. We found that FAPP-2D increased the ADP/ATP ratio and inhibited PKA phosphorylation, activating the LKB1-AMPK pathway. Moreover, FAPP-2D activated AMPK-PGC1α pathway, which could stimulated mitochondrial production and regulate energy metabolism, promoting GLUT4 protein transport to achieve an anti-diabetic effect. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data showed that the LTP modification could increase the CH bond content while decreasing the C-O-C/C-O bond content, indicating that LTP destroyed the C-O-C/C-O bond, which enhanced the anti-diabetes activity of the modified apricot pectin polysaccharide. Our findings could pave the way for the molecular exploitation of apricot polysaccharides and the application of low-temperature plasma.

Antihypertensive Activity of Prunus armeniaca in Hypertensive Rats.

AIMS: The goal of this work was to evaluate the antihypertensive activity of Prunus armeniaca. BACKGROUND: Prunus armeniaca is known for its beneficial medicinal properties. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the aqueous extract of Prunus armeniaca L. (P. armeniaca) leaves (PAAE) on arterial blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the in vivo examination, N-omega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride( L-NAME)-induced hypertensive and normotensive rats received PAAE (160 and 100 mg/kg) orally for the acute experiment spanning 6 hours and for seven days for the subchronic treatment; their blood pressure parameters were also evaluated. In the in vitro experiment, isolated intact thoracic aortic rings were precontracted with KCl (80 mM) and epinephrine (EP) (10 µM), and vascular dilatation was assessed. RESULTS: PAAE lowered blood pressure parameters in L-NAME-induced hypertensive without affecting normotensive rats following oral administration, suggesting that PAAE possesses an antihypertensive effect. In addition, PAAE (0.25-1 mg/mL) revealed a vasorelaxant effect in thoracic aortic rings precontracted by EP (10 µM), and this effect was especially reduced in the presence of glibenclamide or nifedipine. However, PAAE (0.25-1 mg/mL) had only a minimal vasorelaxant effect on thoracic aortic rings precontracted by KCl (80 mM). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the P. armeniaca aqueous extract possesses potent antihypertensive and vasorelaxant activity, and its vasorelaxant activity seems to be mediated through the opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channels and inhibition of L-type calcium channels.

Near-Infrared Metabolic Profiling for Discrimination of Apricot and Peach Kernels.

Apricot and Peach Kernels are commercial crude drugs used in many formulas of traditional Japanese medicine, Kampo. Although their applications are quite different, it is difficult to distinguish them using conventional methods such as HPLC. The study aimed at near-infrared (NIR) metabolic profiling to discriminate Apricot and Peach Kernels (Armeniacae Semen and Persicae Semen) collected from Japanese markets. A fast, simple, non-destructive, and robust NIR measurement of kernel surface with no sample pre-treatment was achieved in situ. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models showed discrimination between the two crude drugs with good fitting and prediction values. These results indicate that NIR metabolic profiling is useful for discriminating Apricot and Peach Kernels based on their chemical constituents using a simple and non-destructive procedure.

Whole Transcriptome Analyses of Apricots and Japanese Plum Fruits after 1-MCP (Ethylene-Inhibitor) and Ethrel (Ethylene-Precursor) Treatments Reveal New Insights into the Physiology of the Ripening Process.

The physiology of Prunus fruit ripening is a complex and not completely understood process. To improve this knowledge, postharvest behavior during the shelf-life period at the transcriptomic level has been studied using high-throughput sequencing analysis (RNA-Seq). Monitoring of fruits has been analyzed after different ethylene regulator treatments, including 1-MCP (ethylene-inhibitor) and Ethrel (ethylene-precursor) in two contrasting selected apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) and Japanese plum (P. salicina L.) cultivars, 'Goldrich' and 'Santa Rosa'. KEEG and protein-protein interaction network analysis unveiled that the most significant metabolic pathways involved in the ripening process were photosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction. In addition, previously discovered genes linked to fruit ripening, such as pectinesterase or auxin-responsive protein, have been confirmed as the main genes involved in this process. Genes encoding pectinesterase in the pentose and glucuronate interconversions pathway were the most overexpressed in both species, being upregulated by Ethrel. On the other hand, auxin-responsive protein IAA and aquaporin PIP were both upregulated by 1-MCP in 'Goldrich' and 'Santa Rosa', respectively. Results also showed the upregulation of chitinase and glutaredoxin 3 after Ethrel treatment in 'Goldrich' and 'Santa Rosa', respectively, while photosystem I subunit V psaG (photosynthesis) was upregulated after 1-MCP in both species. Furthermore, the overexpression of genes encoding GDP-L-galactose and ferredoxin in the ascorbate and aldarate metabolism and photosynthesis pathways caused by 1-MCP favored antioxidant activity and therefore slowed down the fruit senescence process.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity of Apricot (Mimusopsis comersonii) Phenolic-Rich Extract and Its Application as an Edible Coating for Fresh-Cut Vegetable Preservation.

Edible coatings have several advantages in preserving foods, such as avoiding water loss, controlling microbial growth, and reducing the need for preservatives added directly to the product. Antimicrobial action can be obtained by adding antimicrobial substances including phenolic compounds commonly found in plant extracts. This study evaluated the phenolic compounds content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of pulp, and seed extracts of Mimusopsis comersonii (popularly known in Brazil as abrico), besides the phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in the pulp extract. Edible coatings were incorporated with pulp extract in order to evaluate the preservation of minimally processed apples and baroa potatoes against foodborne bacteria, and enzymatic browning was also determined. Myricetin-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, and kaempferol-3-glucoside were identified as major flavonoids in the apricot pulp extract. The seed and pulp extracts inhibited all tested microorganisms, especially Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhimurium. Edible coatings added with 9% of phenolic extract showed in vitro antimicrobial activity, in addition to being effective in preventing enzymatic browning in minimally processed apples and baroa potatoes for up to 15 days of storage. They were also effective in reducing up to 2 log CFU/g of aerobic mesophiles after 15 days of storage for apples, even though no microbial inhibition in baroa potatoes was observed under the same conditions. The addition of pulp phenolic extract in edible coatings proved to be an alternative in the preservation of apples and in the antibrowning activity of minimally processed baroa potatoes.

A Review with Updated Perspectives on Nutritional and Therapeutic Benefits of Apricot and the Industrial Application of Its Underutilized Parts.

Fruits maintain the image as the richest sources of vitamins. Focusing on apricots, utilization of apricot species for many applications is possible due to its various benefits. Many research studies demonstrated different perspectives of apricot, especially in medical used as it can act as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial agents. Moreover, in the industrial sectors, apricots can be used in the production of biofuels and batteries. All components of the apricot fruit, including seeds and kernels have been found to possess significant interest. This review is to breach the knowledge gap regarding the key nutrients and chemicals of apricot fruit, contributing to its health-promoting properties to emphasize the noble importance of this fruit in the diet and in the management of several diseases. We also cover the application of apricots in the industry that could be developed as a promising and sustainable source.

Apricot kernels' extract and amygdalin alter bleomycin-induced Ty1 retrotransposition, mitotic gene conversion in the trp-5 locus and reverse point mutations in ilv1-92 allele in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The present study aims to analyze the effect of apricot kernels' extract (AKE) and amygdalin (AMY) on bleomycin-induced genetic alternations. Five endpoints were analyzed: cell survival, Ty1 retrotransposition, mitotic gene conversion in the trp-5 locus, reverse point mutations in ilv1-92 allele, and mitotic crossing-over in the ade2 locus. The present work provides the first experimental evidence that bleomycin induces Ty1 retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. New data is obtained that the degree of DNA protection of AMY and AKE depends on the studied genetic event. AKE has been found to provide significant protection against bleomycin-induced Ty1 retrotransposition due to better-expressed antioxidant potential. On the other side, AMY better-expressed protection against bleomycin-induced mitotic gene conversion and reverse mutations may be attributed to the activation of the repair enzymes.

Biodiesel Production Using Wild Apricot (Prunus aitchisonii) Seed Oil via Heterogeneous Catalysts.

We confined the formation and characterization of heterogenous nano-catalysts and then used them to produce biodiesel from the novel non-edible seed oil of Prunus aitchisonii. P. aitchisonii seeds' oil content was extracted at about 52.4 ± 3% with 0.77% FFA. Three different heterogenous nano-catalysts-calcined (CPC), KPC, and KOH-activated P. aitchisonii cake Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)-were synthesized using calcination and precipitation methods. The mentioned catalysts were characterized through XRD, SEM, and EDX to inspect their crystallin dimension, shape, and arrangement. Titanium dioxide has morphological dimensions so that the average particle size ranges from 49-60 nm. The result shows that the crystal structure of TiO2 is tetragonal (Anatase). The surface morphology of CPC illustrated that the roughness of the surface was increased after calcination, many macropores and hollow cavities appeared, and the external structure became very porous. These changes in morphology may increase the catalytic efficiency of CPC than non-calcined Prunus aitchisonii oil cake. The fuel belonging to PAOB stood according to the series suggested by ASTM criteria. All the characterization reports that P. aitchisonii is a novel and efficient potential source of biodiesel as a green energy source.

Separation and detection of apricot leaf triterpenes by high-performance thin-layer chromatography combined with direct bioautography and mass spectrometry.

Prunus armeniaca leaf extract was screened for antibacterial compounds by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)-direct bioautography using a Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis bacterium. Six chromatographic zones exhibited characteristic bioactivity. Five of them also appeared after derivatization with vanillin-sulfuric acid reagent and could be characterized with HPTLC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS), suggesting the presence of triterpenoids and the fatty acids linolenic and palmitic acid. To confirm the identification of triterpenoids an HPTLC method using in situ pre-chromatographic derivatization with iodine was developed to separate the closely related triterpenoids. After development, the iodine could be eliminated from the chromatogram (verified by HPTLC-MS), making it suitable for the B. subtilis assay. Ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, betulinic acid, corosolic acid, and maslinic acid were discovered for the first time as antibacterial components of P. armeniaca leaves. Their presence was proved also by 2D-HPTLC combined with intermediate in situ derivatization by iodine.

Immune-antioxidant trait, Aeromonas veronii resistance, growth, intestinal architecture, and splenic cytokines expression of Cyprinus carpio fed Prunus armeniaca kernel-enriched diets.

Currently, the intervention of plant by-products in the fish diet has gained tremendous attention owing to the economic and high nutritious value. The current study is a pioneer attempt to incorporate the apricot, Prunus armeniaca kernel powder (PAKP) into the Common carp, Cyprinus carpio diets, and assess its efficacy on growth, digestion, intestinal morphology, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and splenic cytokines expression, besides the antibacterial role against Aeromonas veronii infection. Apparently healthy fish (N = 120) with an initial body weight of 24.76 ± 0.03g were allotted in 12 glass aquaria (60 L) and randomly distributed into four groups (triplicates, 10 fish/aquarium). The control group (PAKP0) was fed a basal diet without additives. The second, third, and fourth groups were provided PAKP diets with various concentrations (2.5 (PAKP2.5), 5 (PAKP5), and 10 g kg-1 (PAKP10)) respectively. After 60 days (feeding trial), sub-samples of the fish (12 fish/group) were intraperitoneally injected with 1 × 107 CFU mL-1 of A. veronii. Results revealed that body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and specific growth rates were significantly augmented in the PAKP10 group in comparison to the other groups. The dietary inclusion of PAKP at all concentrations boosted the digestive capacity and maintained the intestinal morphology (average villus length, villus width, and goblet cells count) with a marked improvement in PAKP10. Moreover, fish fed on PAKP10 followed by PAKP5 then PAKP2.5 diets had noticeably elevated values of immunological biomarkers (IgM, antiprotease, and lysozyme activity) and antioxidant capabilities (the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione) as well as significant up-regulation of immune and antioxidant-related genes (TGF-ß2, TLR-2, TNF-α, IL-10, SOD, GPx, and GSS). Fourteen days post-infection with A. veronii, the highest relative percentage survival of fish was observed in PAKP10 (83.33%), followed by PAKP5 (66.67%), and PAKP2.5 (50%). Our results indicated that a dietary intervention with PAKP could promise growth, digestion, immunity, and protect C. carpio against A. veronii infection in a dose-dependent manner. This offers a framework for future application of such seeds as a growth promotor, immune-stimulant, and antioxidant, besides an alternative cheap therapeutic antibacterial agent for sustaining the aquaculture industry.

Development of an HRMA-Based Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) Approach for Cost-Effective Genotyping of S and M Loci Controlling Self-Compatibility in Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.).

The apricot species is characterized by a gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system. While GSI is one of the most efficient mechanisms to prevent self-fertilization and increase genetic variability, it represents a limiting factor for fruit production in the orchards. Compatibility among apricot cultivars was usually assessed by either field pollination experiments or by histochemical evaluation of in vitro pollen tube growth. In apricots, self-compatibility is controlled by two unlinked loci, S and M, and associated to transposable element insertion within the coding sequence of SFB and ParM-7 genes, respectively. Self-compatibility has become a primary breeding goal in apricot breeding programmes, stimulating the development of a rapid and cost-effective marker assisted selection (MAS) approach to accelerate screening of self-compatible genotypes. In this work, we demonstrated the feasibility of a novel High Resolution Melting Analysis (HRMA) approach for the massive screening of self-compatible and self-incompatible genotypes for both S and M loci. The different genotypes were unambiguously recognized by HRMA, showing clearly distinguishable melting profiles. The assay was developed and tested in a panel of accessions and breeding selections with known self-compatibility reaction, demonstrating the potential usefulness of this approach to optimize and accelerate apricot breeding programmes.